Firefighters are being called to fires involving e-bikes every other day.
Londoners are buying cheap lithium batteries online and converting bicycles into e-bikes, putting lives at risk, London Fire Brigade says.Batteries that may not adhere to UK safety regulations are "more likely to fail and catch fire", a spokesperson for the brigade said on Twitter.Faulty batteries can also swell out of shape, make a hissing or cracking sound, emit a strong smell and smoke, and fail to hold their charge.
Conversion kits allow people to fix an electric motor to their bicycle, but some are sold without a battery. This leads people to buy them separately, sometimes from a different, cheaper seller, the brigade said. "Buying batteries second-hand means you may be buying a battery that is already damaged and a fire risk," it added.
"DIY installations can also lead to damage of the kit, increasing the chances of battery failure and the likelihood of a fire."Follow BBC London on
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